Five militants killed in Pakistan

Islamabad, Feb 13 (Xinhua) At least five militants were killed and six others were injured in an exchange of fire with security forces Friday in northwestern Pakistan, a military statement said. According to the statement, militants opened fire on a patrolling party of the Pakistan Army near Matta in the Swat district, forcing the security personnel to retaliate.

In the exchange of fire, three militants were killed and five others were injured, it said.

In another exchange of fire near Aligrama in Swat, two militants were killed and another was injured.

Militants have occupied certain villages vacated by civilian population and are engaging security forces from the roof tops.

Moreover, militants remove weapons from the dead bodies of their accomplices and portray them as civilian casualties, said the statement, adding that it had become normal practice of militants that they use innocent people as human shield while engaging security forces.